ES2789675T3 - Hinge device with the possibility of vent opening - Google Patents

Abstract

A hinge device for dishwashers and for other appliances such as ovens, with the possibility of opening the vent, said hinge device comprising a first connection means (3) assigned to be fixed to a structure or frame and rotatably connected by a pin of hinge (4) to a second connection means (5) assigned to be fixed to a door or lock; said device (1) comprising at least one interconnection means (7) having a first end connected to the second connection means (5) by a first connection pin (9) and a second end connected by a second connection pin (11) to a sliding means (13) restricted to move along the first connection means (3) and provided with elastic means (15) and with friction means (17) assigned to transmit to the second connection means ( 5), by the interconnection means (7), respectively, an elastic force directed in the direction of the extreme closing condition (C) of the door or closing and a friction force directed opposite to the rotation of the door or closing ; and said device (1) comprising stopping means (19) assigned to abut with the sliding means (13) at an end part of the rotation of the closing door or the closure that stops the sliding means (13) in correspondence with a condition of opening of the vent (S) of the door or closing and wherein the second connecting pin (11) is housed with free space in a respective seat (21) made at the second end of the interconnection means (7 ) and in the form of a slot to allow the second connecting means (5) and towards the door or closing to carry out the final part of the door closing or closing rotation from the open vent condition (S) to the extreme closing condition (C); said device (1) being characterized in that each friction means (17) comprises at least one friction sliding block (25) secured to the sliding means (13) by a respective pin and sliding along a wall respective sliding (27) of the first connection means (3) and parallel to the translation direction of the sliding means (13); the at least one stopping means (19) is fixed or made in the first connection means (3) in proximity to at least one sliding wall (27) to abut with the sliding means (13) stopping its stroke towards the door closing or closing in correspondence with the opening condition of the breather (S).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Hinge device with the possibility of vent opening

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field relating to hinges for dishwashers and for other appliances such as, for example, ovens or the like and, in particular, it relates to a hinge device with the possibility of opening the vent to allow steam to escape. at the end of washing, or during or after cooking.

STATE OF THE ART

Known dishwasher hinges allow the opening and closing of the door having a horizontal and lower axis of rotation, balancing the weight of said door. At the end of the washing operations, the dishwashers carry out a final heating phase of the dishes after which the user should open the door, at least a few degrees, to allow the steam to escape. By skipping opening the door at the right time, the steam remains inside the dishwasher and, as a result of cooling, the steam condenses, re-moistening the dishes and the inside of the dishwasher. It often happens that the user forgets to open the door or that the opening is insufficient, for example due to the elastic closing force applied to the door by the elastic bodies of the known hinges.

A further disadvantage of the known hinges is that they can allow inadvertent total opening of the door starting from the opening, to some degree, of the vapor breather occupying part of the floor area creating a tripping hazard for unsuspecting passersby.

Electric controls for door locks are known and can sometimes provide a small spring opening push. Such locks can be applied to the dishwasher to program the opening at the end of the wash cycles, but the elastic force of the hinges, necessary to balance the weight of the door, prevents the door from opening enough to allow ventilation.

Document US3749080 discloses an oven hinge device, comprising the features of the preamble of claim 1.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to propose a hinge device with the possibility of opening the vent which, in the first stages of opening or up to a few degrees of opening, for example from about 8 ° to about 20 °, preferably about 11 ° , do not transmit the elastic closing force and / or the friction forces that oppose the opening to the door.

Another object is to propose a hinge device that, from the opening condition of the vent to the fully opening condition and vice versa, can balance the weight of the door and slow down the rotation of the door.

Another object of the invention is to propose a hinge device that is capable of providing the door with a small elastic opening push towards said opening vent condition to facilitate the initial opening phase of the door in response to the opening of the lock. .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristics of the invention are shown below with particular reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

- Figure 1 shows a front and partial view of the hinge device with the possibility of opening the vent, object of the present invention, in a closed condition;

- Figure 2 shows an enlarged view of a detail of Figure 1;

- Figure 3 shows an axonometric isometric view of a first connection means of Figure 1; - Figure 4 shows an enlarged view of a detail of Figure 3 to better illustrate the respective stop means;

- Figure 5 shows an enlarged front view of an interconnection means of Figure 1;

- Figure 6 illustrates a front view of the hinge device with the possibility of opening the vent of Figure 1 in an open vent condition of 11 ° and in which the respective elastic means are schematically and partially shown;

- Figure 7 shows an enlarged view of a detail of figure 6;

- Figure 8 shows a front view of the hinge device with the possibility of opening the vent of Figure 1 in a not completely open condition and in a phase of rotation towards the full opening, shown by the large inclined arrow, wherein the elastic force carried by the elastic means, not shown, is represented by a smaller inclined arrow pointing vertically upwards;

- Figure 9 is an enlarged view of a detail of Figure 8;

- Figure 10 shows a front view of the hinge device with the possibility of opening the vent of Figure 1 in a not fully open condition, corresponding to that of Figure 8 but in a condition of rotation towards the closure shown by the large arrow inclined, wherein the elastic force carried by elastic means, not shown, is represented by a smaller surrounded arrow pointing vertically upwards;

- Figure 11 shows an enlarged view of a detail of figure 10;

- Figure 12 shows a front view and in the closed state of a variant of the device of Figure 1; - Figures 13 and 14 show, from their respective points of view, axonometric and exploded views of a thrust means of Figure 12.

BEST WAY TO CARRY OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to Figures 1 to 11, 1 indicates the hinge device with the possibility of opening the vent object of the present invention that comprises a first connection means 3 assigned to be fixed to a structure or frame of a dishwasher or of another device with a door that has a horizontal and lower axis of rotation.

The first connection means 3 is rotatably connected, by means of a hinge pin 4 whose axis of rotation defines the axis of rotation of the door, to a second connection means 5 assigned to be fixed to said door or closure of the dishwasher or other apparatus.

The hinge device 1 also comprises at least one interconnection means 7 consisting of a shaped connecting rod having a first end connected to the second connection means 5 by a first connection pin 9 and a second end connected, by a second pin connection 11, to a sliding means 13 restricted to translate along the first connection means 3.

Said sliding means 13 is connected to, or is provided with, an elastic means 15, shown schematically and partially in figure 6, and 13 is connected to a friction means 17 assigned to transmit to the second connection means 5, by means of the interconnection means 7, respectively, an elastic force directed in the direction of the extreme closing condition C of the door or closure and a friction force directed in opposition to the rotation of the door or closure.

The device 1 also comprises a stop means 19 assigned to abut with the sliding means 13 or preferably with a member of the friction means 17 at an end part of the closing rotation of the door or the closing that stops the means of sliding 13 in correspondence of a condition of open vent S of the door or closing, putting this door or lock, in the condition of open vent S, out of the action of the elastic closing force and by the friction force produced by the medium friction. The connecting pin 11 is rigidly fixed to the sliding means 13 and is housed with free space in a respective seat 21 made at the second end of the interconnecting means 7 and said seat 21 is shaped in the form of an elongated slot in the direction of movement of the sliding average towards the closed condition C of the door or closing. In an obvious alternative to the invention, the connecting pin 11 is rigidly secured to the second end of the interconnecting means 7 and is housed with a free space in a respective seat 21 obtained in the sliding means 13.

The shape of the seat 21 for the connecting pin 11 allows the connecting means 5 and the door or door to perform the final part of the door closing or closing rotation from the open vent condition S to the closed condition end C and the corresponding reverse rotation while the sliding means 13 is supported by the stopping means 19 which prevents a further translation of the sliding means 13.

The friction means 17 provides the second connection means 5 with a friction force greater in intensity or in a modulus of the elastic force provided to the second connection means 5 by the elastic means 15.

The sliding means 13 consists of a rocker whose middle part is coupled to the connecting pin 11. The friction means 17 comprise at least one friction sliding block 25, preferably two as shown in Figures 1 to 11, and they are positioned at opposite positions with respect to the connecting pin 11. Each friction slide block 25 is secured to the slide means 13 by a respective pin and slides along a respective slide wall 27 of the first connection means 3, said sliding wall 27 is parallel to the direction of translation of the sliding means Each sliding wall 27 is parallel to the connecting pins 11 and to each pin that secures the respective friction sliding block 25; the sliding means 13 is provided with a hook 23 for the elastic means 15 positioned, with respect to the connecting pin 11, in such a way that it transmits to each friction sliding block 25 a bearing torque that pushes it 25 against the wall of respective sliding 27. The elastic means 15 are, for example, of a type of compressed helical spring that has one end in abutment with a shelf or support 35 of the first connection means and that has the opposite end that acts, by means of an internal rod not shown which guides the spring, in the hook 23 of the sliding means 13.

The stopping means 19 is fixed or made on the first connecting means 3 in proximity to at least one sliding wall 27 to abut with the sliding means 13 or preferably with one of the friction sliding blocks 25 that stops its stroke towards the door closing or closing in correspondence with the opening condition of the vent S.

Preferably, the latch 23 for the elastic means 15 is positioned on the sliding means 13 on the side of the last 13 opposite, with respect to the second connecting pin 11, to the friction sliding block 25 which is assigned to abut with the means detention 19.

As shown in Figures 1-11, the catch 23 and the straight line of action of the elastic force of the elastic means are displaced with respect to a straight geometric line parallel to the translational movement of the sliding means 13 and passing through of the connecting pin 11, and the friction sliding block 25 is mutually displaced in such a way that the torque generated by the displacement of the hitch 23 with respect to the connecting pin 11 is transmitted to the friction sliding blocks 25 by pressing them against the respective sliding walls 27. In the opening condition of the vent S, the angle of rotation of the second connecting means 5 and of the door compared to the closed condition C is generally between 8 ° and 20 ° and is preferably approximately 11 °; the longitudinal extension of the slot-shaped seat 21 is such that it allows the door to rotate through this last angle when the stop means 19 are supported by the sliding means 13.

The operation of device 1 provides that the door or lock can reach the open condition of the respirator S from the closed condition C through a slight push produced by an electrically controlled lock and provides that the door can follow the opposite route through manual thrust or inertia.

This is allowed by the longitudinal extension of the slot-shaped seat 21, which allows free rotation of the door between the closed condition C and the vent condition S, removing the door from spring and friction forces applied to the sliding means. 13 while the translation of the latter is blocked by the stopping means 19.

The interconnection means 7 of the device of the variant of Figures 12 to 14, consists of a connecting rod or, as shown in Figure 12, a connecting chain of connecting rods and rocker arm.

This variant comprises a push means 29 equipped with an elastic means and assigned to act on the interconnection means 7 with an elastic force destined to facilitate or allow the achievement of the vent condition S of the door or closure from the condition closed C. The thrust means 29 comprises a respective body fixed to the first connection means 3 and provided with a longitudinal cavity that houses a helical spring that operates in compression and that acts axially on a movable rod in said cavity whose outer end transmits the elastic force of the spring to the interconnection means 7 to provide the door with an elastic opening force from the closed condition C to the ventilation condition S.

The operation of this variant provides that, after the electrically actuated opening of the closed door, the elastic force of the pushing means 29 allows or assists the rotation of the door from the closed condition C to the vent condition S.

Claims (8)

1. A hinge device for dishwashers and for other appliances such as ovens, with the possibility of opening the vent, said hinge device comprising a first connection means (3) assigned to be fixed to a structure or frame and rotatably connected by a hinge pin (4) to a second connection means (5) assigned to be fixed to a door or lock; said device (1) comprising at least one interconnection means (7) having a first end connected to the second connection means (5) by a first connection pin (9) and a second end connected by a second connection pin (11) to a sliding means (13) restricted to move along the first connection means (3) and provided with elastic means (15) and with friction means (17) assigned to transmit to the second connection means ( 5), by the interconnection means (7), respectively, an elastic force directed in the direction of the extreme closing condition (C) of the door or closing and a friction force directed opposite to the rotation of the door or closing ; and said device (1) comprising stopping means (19) assigned to abut with the sliding means (13) at an end part of the rotation of the closing door or the closure that stops the sliding means (13) in correspondence with a condition of opening of the vent (S) of the door or closing and wherein the second connecting pin (11) is housed with free space in a respective seat (21) made at the second end of the interconnection means (7 ) and in the form of a slot to allow the second connecting means (5) and towards the door or closing to carry out the final part of the door closing or closing rotation from the open vent condition (S) to the extreme closing condition (C); said device (1) being characterized in that each friction means (17) comprises at least one friction sliding block (25) secured to the sliding means (13) by a respective pin and sliding along a wall respective sliding (27) of the first connection means (3) and parallel to the translation direction of the sliding means (13); the at least one stopping means (19) is fixed or made in the first connection means (3) in proximity to at least one sliding wall (27) to abut with the sliding means (13) stopping its stroke towards the closing of the door or the closing in correspondence with the condition of opening of the breather (S). The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the friction means (17) provide the second connection means (5) with a friction force of greater intensity or in modulus to the elastic force provided to the second connection means ( 5) by the elastic means (15). The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sliding means (13) consists of a rocker whose middle part is coupled to the connecting pin (11). The device according to claim 1, characterized in that each sliding wall (27) is parallel to the connecting pins (11) and to the restriction pin of each friction sliding block (25) and that the means of Slide (13) is provided with a hook (23) for the elastic means (15) positioned, with respect to the connecting pin (11), in a way that transmits to each friction slide block (25) a supporting torque against the respective sliding wall (27). The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the hook (23) for the elastic means (15) is positioned on the sliding means (13) on the side of the latter (13) opposite, with respect to the second connecting pin (11), to the friction slide block (25) which is assigned to abut with the stop means (19). The device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the slot seat (21), made in the interconnection means (7), to house the second connecting pin (11) is elongated approximately in the direction of the movement of the sliding means. and has a longitudinal extension that allows the interconnection means (7), the second connection means (5) and the door or closure to reach the closed condition (C) from the open vent condition (S) by manual push . The device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the interconnection means (7) consist of a connecting rod or a series of connecting rod and rocker arm. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises a pushing means (29) comprising an elastic means and assigned to act on the interconnection means (7) with an elastic force assigned to facilitate or to allow the achievement open condition of door vent (S) or close.